By Fredrick Njoku
The highly anticipated Two-Day South East Creative Economy Summit concluded successfully, gathering key stakeholders from the arts, entertainment, digital, and creative industries. The theme of the summit, “Intellectual Property, Entertainment Technology and Wealth Creation: Imperatives for Enhancing the South East Creative Economy”, underpinned the critical conversations around regulation, innovation, and economic empowerment.
Held in Owerri, the capital of Imo State, the Summit was a strategic collaboration between the Imo State Government, through the Ministry of Tourism, Hospitality and Culture, and Ojemba Media and Entertainment Ltd. The primary goals were to push for better regulation and protection of Intellectual Property (IP) as a catalyst for the economic wellbeing of creative professionals, and to advocate for a better structural profile for the South East Creative Economy.
In his welcome address, the Honourable Commissioner for Tourism, Hospitality and Culture, Barr. Jerry Egemba, emphasized the role of IP, technology, and creative talents in wealth creation and economic advancement. He described the Summit as a platform for reawakening and redefining the role of the creative industry in driving growth through innovation and cultural expression.
Egemba highlighted the state’s commitment to digital transformation and artistic innovation, noting that the Imo State Government has been investing in platforms like the Imo Youth Fiesta and Black History Day, which empower young talents and promote cultural heritage.
He reiterated that the summit aligns with the vision of Governor Hope Uzodimma, who aims to position Imo State as both a regional entertainment powerhouse and a top tourism destination. Egemba added that the establishment of the Ministry of Digital Economy and E-Government by the Governor demonstrates a clear intent to boost the creative economy through strategic collaborations.
In a powerful keynote speech, Dr. John Asein, Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), urged the creative community to view creativity not only as a cultural pursuit but as a strategic economic driver. He stressed the importance of a supportive ecosystem, including legal, institutional, and financial frameworks that protect and empower creators.
Dr. Asein also addressed the global threat of piracy, noting that the Copyright Act of 2022 introduces comprehensive measures, including obligations for Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to combat digital copyright infringement. He encouraged artists and stakeholders to take ownership of their rights and actively engage with the copyright system. While commending innovative leadership initiatives of South East governments such as the Imo Digital Economy Agenda (IDEA), the Connected Imo Initiative, the One Kindred, One Business Initiative, the Anambra Innovation Week, the promotion of indigenous brands or ‘Made-in-Aba’ and identification of over 55 heritage sites by the Abia State government, the thriving art scene, film sector, indigenous traditional festivals in Enugu State, and other platforms serving as springboards to support young creative, Dr. Asein assured organisers of the Summit and all stakeholders that the Nigerian Copyright Commission remains fully committed to supporting their noble aspirations to strengthen the creative economy in the South-East as a major pillar of Nigeria’s growth and development plan.
The summit also drew praise from Dr. Shaibu Husseini, Executive Director of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), who was represented at the event. He described the summit as historic. In his words, “This is the first time in the history of South East Nigeria’s creative industry that we have a well-articulated summit focused on building economic value from creative content.”
Dr. Husseini pledged NFVCB’s commitment to partnering with the organizers to move the initiative forward and to help structure the creative industry for wealth creation, job opportunities, and global competitiveness.
Other dignitaries who offered goodwill messages included representatives of the Chairman of South East Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Eze Dr. E.C. Okeke CFR, Nda Paddy Obinna (former Special Adviser on Culture and Creative Arts), a senior staff of the Abia State Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, and the National President of the DeeJays Association of Nigeria (DJAN). Their presence and contributions further underscored the importance of the regional Summit.
Also speaking, the Imo State Commissioner for Youth Development and Talent Hunt, Dr. Emeka Mandela Ukaegbu, lauded the Summit’s impact, describing it as a generational opportunity for the South East. He emphasized that the passion and vision driving the state’s creative agenda stem directly from Governor Uzodimma’s transformative leadership. “Imo is ready to champion every positive and creative cause that can elevate the region and the country,” he stated.
On their part, the Summit workshop facilitators, Barr. Mike Akpan of Alpha-Edge Legal and Dr. Chinedu Chukwuji of Purpleblue Academy of Music Business, made deeply insightful presentations that sparked serious debates, illuminated the minds of creatives and exposed them to practical knowledge of ways and means to protect their creative works from undue exploitation, promote their works, connect to global trends and gain higher values commensurate with their creative efforts.
Earlier in his welcome address, the CEO of Ojemba Media and Entertainment Ltd and Coordinator of the South East Creative Economy Summit, Mr. Victor Nwokocha described the Summit as “a transformative intervention focused on driving progress in the creative sector while providing lasting economic, social and cultural benefits.” He further stated that the Summit sought to achieve a critical status review of the South East Creative Economy, to identify growth gaps, evolve pragmatic economic models especially in the context of intellectual property protection, and strengthen the foundations for standardized development of the South East Creative Economy through a data-based blueprint for planning, investment, regulation and evaluation.
While expressing gratitude to the Imo State Government, particularly the Ministry of Tourism, Hospitality and Culture, the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, the Nigerian Copyright Commission, the National Film and Video Censors Board, National Council for Arts and Culture, the Renewed Hope Partners, Abia State Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, the Department of Music, Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Imo State Chapter, and leaders of various Creative Industry Guilds and Associations, Mr. Nwokocha called on governments of the South East, the South East Development Commission and other key stakeholders to accord top priority attention to the development of South East Creative Economy and help upscale its structural profile as a critical economic sector.
The inaugural South East Creative Economy Summit, which also featured the South East Creative Industry Roundtable, not only ignited critical conversations around intellectual property and innovation but also echoed the need for stronger regional collaboration, national partnerships, legislative advocacy and enforcement of extant laws to protect creative works. As stakeholders look toward future editions, there is growing optimism that given sustained support and tougher execution of IP laws, the South East creative sector can become a leading force in Nigeria’s economic transformation.
